Wine Used to Make Cocktails

If you are at all familiar with the latest trends in hip cocktails then you will know that wine and champagne cocktails are all the rage.

 

One could write an entire book about wines and still barely brush the entire subject, but only a few wines are used to make authentic cocktails. Below is a list of the most common kinds of alcohols that are technically classified as wines that are used to create classic mixed drinks.

 

Champagne

While the term Champagne is sometimes casually used to describe any form of sparkling rotgut, it is only supposed to refer to the sparkling wine that comes from the Champagne region of France.  Champagne was invented by a monk by the name of Dom Perignon.

 

Lillet

Lillet is a French aperitif produced in Bordeaux, and comes in either red or white (although the white version is the more common). It is fortified with Armagnac, herbs, fruit, and Bordeaux wine.

 

Port

Port is a rich fortified wine, meaning that additional alcohol has been added to what might otherwise be a normal wine. There are several kinds of Port available on the market.

 

Vintage Port is aged for at least two years in a barrel and stays in the bottle for at least ten years.

LBV or Late Bottle Vintage Port is aged for between four to six years in oak casks/.

Ruby Port is a rich red in color and is not aged.

 

Tawny Port is amber in color and aged from a month to six months before it is bottled for consumption.

 

Sherry

A proper sherry can only be produced in a region near Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It is made almost exclusively from the Palomino Fino grape.

 

Dry (French) and Sweet (Italian) Vermouth

Vermouth is a fortified wine aperitif, flavored with herbs, spices, barks, and flowers. There are various brands of vermouth produced in both Italy and France, and the flavors can be added through infusion, maceration, or distillation. The name “Vermouth” itself derives from the German “Wermut” (Wormwood, which kills parasites in the digestive track, is an ingredient in Vermouth).

The original version of Vermouth is Italian what we call Sweet Vermouth. Eventually the French (dry/white, as opposed to sweet/red) version of Vermouth came into existence so recipes would differentiate between the two by specifying “Italian Vermouth” or “French Vermouth”. In order to keep it straight in your mind just ember that Red Vermouth is sweet and that white vermouth is always dry.

 

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Looking Glamorous Without Aging Yourself

The problem with most “glam” make-up looks is that they can age you.  That is because there is a lot of layers and foundation that give you an impersonal mask-like look. .  Older women can look even older if they go for the darker colors that you see recommended for most evening looks. The dark blue shadows and black lipsticks associated with these looks are too extreme for even young faces to wear well. However fixing this issue is simply a matter of still using dark make-up colors, but changing the palette so that whatever shade you use on the lips or eyes is still intense but not in a dark color.

 

This is one instance where the application of a heavier foundation is going to look the best.  Apply a light layer of light to medium-coverage foundation and a concealer where needed. Be sure to apply powder to the canvas of your face after you are done so that the make up sets properly.

 

Line your eyes using a deep maroon or burgundy color instead of the usual black or blue and bring the color to the edge of the eye to create a slight wing tip.  You could also use a color like olive green or forest green but make sure that whatever color you use suits your complexion.  Don’t line the bottom part of the eye.   Apply two coats of black or very dark brown mascara to the top lashes and be sure to coat the bottom lashes heavily to create more impact.  Dab a bit of gold eye shadow or pink eyes shadow in the center of each eyelid for a glossy effect.

 

Sweep a darker tawny or almost brown powder in the hollows of your cheeks to create drama and then line your lips thickly with a pencil in a matching burgundy or brown shade.  Fill in your lips with a complementary shade of very dark burgundy lipstick and apply a dab of gold powder in the center of your lips to make them look fuller, luscious and wider.  If you want to be more subtle than try doing this look in cooler tones of silver, flesh and pink tones. You will look a little more like a retro-sixties girl but the effect will be very hip and glamorous.

 

The result is a sophisticated glamorous look that is not “too” street-wise, aging  or overdone.

 

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Eric Michael Booties